Disability Pension (non-contributory) – Guide

The Spanish welfare system, through Social Security, guarantees adequate protection against situations of risk, in both contributory and non-contributory benefits. Non-contributory benefits are those which are not conditional to a minimum quotation of your work towards the Social Security system. Therefore, those are universal benefits that are provided to anyone who fulfils their criteria, regardless of their contributions to the Spanish welfare system.

Non-contributory disability pension (NDP)

The non-contributory disability pension (from now on NDP) secures that all residents in a situation of disability and economic, medical or social services assistance have access to a pension regardless of their contribution to Social Security. All non-Spanish residents, including UK nationals, are eligible as long as they fulfil the requirements listed below.

Requirements

• Being 18+ years of age and less than 65.

• Being a legal resident for the past 5 years, from which at least 2 are consecutive and immediately previous to the application.

• Having a disability degree of at least 65%, or higher. Check how to obtain a disability degree here.

To qualify for the non-contributory disability pension in Spain, your annual income for 2025 must be below €7,905.80. If you live with family members, their income is also considered — this is known as a cohabitation economic unit.

Who counts as family?

People who count toward your household income include:

• Your spouse or partner

• Parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren

• Siblings
  These must be people related by blood, marriage, or adoption up to the second degree and living with you.

Housemates or roommates who are not close family members do not count, and their income is not included.

Income Limits Based on Who You Live With

If you live only with your spouse or close family (as listed above), your total household income must be below these limits:

If you require help from a third person (i.e., assistance with daily living), the income limits are higher:

If you live with first-degree relatives only (parents or children), the limits are higher still:

The non-contributory disability pension is incompatible with a non-contributory retirement pension (people over 65 should access the latter instead).

To apply for the NDP you will have to provide the following documents:

• Disability degree

• Copy of your residency document/TIE

• Proof of continued residency (through a Certificación de Residente) obtained from the police.

• Legislation letter from the consulate or competent authority certifying that you are/aren’t receiving a pension, and if so, state the yearly amount and the number of payments you receive.

• Completed general application form

Application Process

The management and recognition of the right to receive a non-contributory pension is carried out by the Autonomous Communities, which have transferred the functions and services of the Institute for the Elderly and Social Services ( Imserso ). The application can be submitted at the Social Services offices of the Autonomous Communities, the Imserso (National Institute of Social Security), or any other Social Security office, where the corresponding form will be provided, or by mail.

Follow this link to find your corresponding community to obtain an application form.

You will have to include the following information in your application:

Economic information – you will have to inform of what is your current income, and if you are perceiving any other benefit. This expands to the people living with you.

• Income from work or benefits: state the concept, source and yearly amount.

• Income from assets: provide the value of the assets.

• Banking details: as a beneficiary of the pension you will need to be the holder of the account.

Documentation depending on your status:

• If working: copy of the salary sheets of the current year and a declaration of the annual payments.

• Self-employed: copies of the quarterly IRPF declarations from the current year.

• Unemployed: copy emitted by the SEPE stating the monthly payment you are perceiving.

Documents regarding the people living with you:

• Separated or divorced: certified copy of the sentence.

• Pensioner from another country: document from the consulate or competent authority certifying that you are/aren’t receiving a pension, and if so, state the yearly amount and the number of payments you receive.

• Employed // self-employed // unemployed: *see requisites above.

*Some regions might require a different form for your partners/relatives living with you. Check the links of your region to find out.